Boxer holds slim edge as '04 Senate race nears

By Robert D. Dávila -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 a.m. PDT Friday, October 17, 2003

Democrat Barbara Boxer maintains a small plurality of support for re-election to the U.S. Senate and leads four potential Republican challengers as attention shifts toward next year's statewide elections, according to a poll released Thursday.

Forty-five percent of all registered voters surveyed by the Field Poll said they were inclined to re-elect Boxer to a third six-year term in November 2004, while 40 percent were not inclined and 15 percent had no opinion. The numbers have changed little since July, when 48 percent were inclined to re-elect Boxer, 41 percent were not and 11 percent had no opinion.

Boxer held a 14-point lead over her closest potential GOP rival, former California Secretary of State Bill Jones, in the most recent poll. Her margin increased to 22 points against Assemblyman Tony Strickland and to 23 points each in matchups with former U.S. Treasurer Rosario Marin and Los Altos Hills Mayor Toni Casey.

Meanwhile, two-thirds of Republican voters in the poll were undecided about which GOP candidate should run against Boxer. Twenty-four percent picked Jones, while Strickland, Marin and Casey each received single-digit support.

more...http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/story/7614908p-8555600c.html

The actual Field link isn't up yet...I would appreciate it if someone would post it below when it becomes available.